Effect of dietary supplementation of curry leaves (Murraya koenigii) powder on the performance and histology of certain lymphoid organs of commercial broiler chicken
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Date
2022-09
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College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara Campus
Abstract
The present research work was performed to study the “Effect of dietary
supplementation of curry leaves (Murraya koenigii) powder on the performance and
histology of certain lymphoid organs of commercial broiler chicken”. The study was
carried out with 144 numbers of day-old commercial broiler chicks (Cobb-400) obtained
from a single hatch with uniform body weight. The weighing and wing banding of the
chicks were done individually. The broiler chicks were reared in four different
experimental groups viz. T0, T1, T2 and T3 having 36 birds in each group with 3 replicates
of 12 birds in each group. The chicks were reared under deep litter system of rearing
following standard and uniform managemental practices. The chicks under T0 (control)
group was supplemented with only basal diet, whereas the chicks under T1, T2 and T3
groups were supplemented with dried Curry Leaves Powder (CLP) at the level of 0.25,
0.50 and 0.75% in the basal diet, respectively. For the preparation of dried CLP, fresh,
and matured curry leaves were collected from the local villages. Then the curry leaves
were sun dried for 6 to 7 days on newspaper, until they become crispy while retaining the
greenish colouration. After proper drying, leaves were grinded and stored in cellophane
bags for further use during the 6 weeks of experimental period. The proximate
composition of curry leaf powder was analyzed and incorporated it into the basal diet of
broiler chicken at the level of 0.00, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75%, respectively.
During the six weeks of experimental period, the following parameters were
studied: performance traits which included weekly feed intake and total feed
consumption, weekly body weight and body weight gain, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR),
Broiler Performance Efficiency Index (BPEI) and livability and economics of
production, carcass traits like pre-slaughter live weight, dressed weight, dressing
percentage, giblet weight, giblet yield, yields of cut-up parts and relative organ weights,
organoleptic properties of chicken meat, blood biochemical parameters like serum
glucose and superoxide dismutase, and histological observations of lymphoid organs
(spleen, thymus and bursa of Fabricius) and jejunum of intestine after the end of six
weeks of age.
In the present study, the highest feed intake per broiler was recorded in the T3
group (3253.88g) and lowest in the T1 group (3014.19g). The final body weight per
broiler was found to be significantly (P<0.05) highest in the T3 group (1989.43±43.16g)
followed by T2 (1793.34±34.56g), T0 (1733.76±57.33g) and T1 (1653.31±49.57g) group.
During the 6th week of age, the body weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T3
group (546.37±27.97g) and lowest in the T1 (360.11±17.48g) group. The overall FCR of
the entire experimental period was best in the T3 group (1.67) followed by T2 (1.83), T1
(1.87) and T0 (1.90) group. Among the different treatment groups, highest BPEI was
found in the T3 group (119.11) followed by T2 (97.99), T0 (91.21) and T1 (88.40) group.
The per cent livability of CLP supplemented groups (T1, T2 and T3) was found to be
higher (97.22) as compared to control (91.67) group.
The production cost per broiler was highest in the T3 group (ƻ) (226.28) followed
by T0 (224.90), T2 (224.48) and T1 (213.88) group, respectively. However, the recorded
gross profit per broiler was highest in the T3 group (ƻ) (28.87) followed by T2 (17.17), T1
(8.87) and T0 (8.65), respectively.
The carcass traits comprising of pre-slaughter live weight, dressed weight,
dressing percentage, giblet weight and giblet yield did not differ significantly (P>0.05)
under different experimental groups. The per cent yields of cut-up parts like neck, wings,back, breast, thighs and drumsticks showed no significant (P>0.05) differences among
the different treatment groups. The per cent weights of relative organs on pre-slaughter
live weight basis did not differ significantly (P>0.05) for different experimental groups.
In the present study, the blood biochemical parameters like serum glucose and
superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed significant (P<0.05) differences among the
different experimental groups. The serum glucose level decreased gradually as the level
of incorporation of CLP was increased. On the other hand, the SOD level increased
gradually with the increased level of CLP in the basal diet.
The organoleptic evaluation of broiler chicken meat for colour, flavour, texture,
juiciness and overall acceptance did not show any significant (P<0.05) differences
among the different treatment groups.
The gross, histology and ultrastructure (scanning electron photomicrograph) of
lymphoid organs (spleen, thymus and bursa of Fabricius) and jejunum of intestine of T0,
T1, T2 and T3 groups of broiler chicken were studied. From the histological observations
of lymphoid organs and jejunum, it was found that the average length, diameter,
thickness and weight of spleen, thymus and bursa of Fabricius were significantly
(P<0.05) higher in T3 group of broiler chicken along with numerous lymphocytes
aggregation in these organs. The mean length of villi and diameter of crypts of the
jejunum of T3 group of broiler chicken were also significantly (P<0.05) higher as
compared to the T0, T1 and T2 groups of broiler chicken. The lymphoid follicle of
jejunum of T3 group of chicken contained numerous T and B lymphocytes. This might be
due to the concentration and immunogenic effect of CLP.
Hence, it can be concluded that, the CLP can be supplemented as herbal feed
additives in the diet of broiler chicken at the level of 0.75% to improve the overall
performance of broiler chicken with higher gross profit per broiler. The observations in
the current study has established a major role in recording the anatomical norms in
respect of gross, histology and ultrastructure of lymphoid organs and jejunum of intestine
of broiler chickens fed with CLP at different levels.